Chris Andrews
Labour Panel · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“I want to move an amendment to No. 1 on the Order Paper, proposing an orderly winding down of the accommodation recognition payment scheme in a way that is fair and efficient. I note today is the last day of Dáil and Seanad sittings before the summer recess.”
“The Government can point to housing and claim that there are huge successes. There is only success for the wealthy, the well-off, the developers and the landlords. They are all delighted with Government policy.”
“Government will say, "Look at the positives", but there are a huge amount of challenges. You need not look any further than the housing crisis. Of course, the Government will point to an increased number of housing developments. However, those housing developments are for the very well-off.”
“We supported the development of housing on the Glass Bottle site. We worked hard to ensure to get more social housing. Unfortunately, the Government would not do that. Now it seems that the so-called "affordable housing" on the Glass Bottle site will be unaffordable.”
“I move amendment No. 14: In page 7, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “Annual report 11. The Minister shall, within the first six months of the year, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report outlining the application of this Act, providing an update on— (a) how many successful actions were brought under section 14…”
“I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “ “settlement service” means a service provided in whole or in part within a postal code or relevant occupied territory to which this Act applies;”.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,016 lines we hold for Chris Andrews, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 9 of 21.
“Nearly three years later, there has still been no inquest and this is very upsetting for the family. There has been radio silence from the coroner's office. I know there are issues with resources for the coroner's office but three years of a delay is lamentable. It is very unfair on the family. The coroner's office is clearly not fit for purpose and a three-year wait is simply unacceptable. Gary's family has been left in the waiting room for three years. They need and deserve answers. The Government needs to get this sorted out so that Gary's family and other families get some answers and some peace. The shortage in staffing numbers is discussed but Gary and his family are the faces and people behind these numbers and statistics. They deserve better than this.”
“I agree with Senator Higgins's request for a debate. Now more than ever we need to ensure that Ireland is not facilitating, and does not facilitate, war, militarisation and genocide. On another issue, a young man, Gary Ward, died by suicide on 7 April 2023. He had his struggles with his mental health. He was interested in and studied politics in UCD. He had schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder. He was a loving son. He was hospitalised a number of times. The mental health system failed Gary and his family. The hospital did not tell his doctor he was on suicide watch. The family were unaware he was on suicide watch. The protocols for a person on suicide watch were, the family believe and the evidence would support, not followed. Gary's team was meant to check in daily but it seems this did not happen either.”
“I say to them, "Well done for showing some compassion, kindness and caring." The person who blew the whistle on this businessman in County Clare is being investigated, yet the businessman who is abusing these dogs faces no consequences. In Wales and Scotland, they banned greyhound racing. We should be doing the same.”
“It highlights the call by My Lovely Horse Rescue for a Garda animal crime unit which could address incidents like this. Why is the Department of agriculture not intervening? It is responsible for greyhound welfare so it should be sending in its veterinary inspectors, rather than the compromised Greyhound Racing Ireland inspectors. Some of the four dogs had no water. The most bizarre fact in all of this is that An Garda Síochána is investigating the kind and compassionate person who made the video - the person who showed some sort of kindness to these poor dogs who have clearly seen little kindness in their lives so far. I also understand, and it is absolutely bonkers, that An Garda Síochána is looking for a search warrant for Clare Animal Welfare so the person who made the video can be identified. I applaud the person who made the video.”
“These muzzles stop the dog from barking but they also stop the dog from drinking and panting and, as they stop the dog from vomiting, it could choke as a result of wearing the anti-bark muzzle. These anti-bark muzzles should be illegal. The person in charge of this building should be made to live in the conditions he subjects these dogs to and then he might realise that it is unacceptable. Maybe having a muzzle on the owner of the dogs would be helpful to stop him from talking and drinking and we will see how he likes it then. All of this raises a number of issues. Why does Greyhound Racing Ireland inspect itself? That should not be allowed. It is like self-regulation: it will not work, it does not work and it has never worked. There should be an independent dog or animal welfare inspector going into premises like this.”
“A video is circulating of four young greyhounds in Parteen, County Clare. The conditions they are being kept in are completely unacceptable. An individual passing by heard the four greyhounds crying and upset, so went in to video them. After the video was circulated, Greyhound Racing Ireland inspected the premises and made a couple of comments but gave the premises the all clear. It is very hard to outline here how bad the conditions were. It was absolutely heartbreaking to watch four young dogs be treated like this. Subsequently, after the visit, one of the greyhounds was seen wearing an anti-bark muzzle. These are cruel devices. Most people will not what an anti-bark muzzle is; they will just think it is a muzzle.”
“The downpipe is the source of the problems and it needs to be urgently fixed. The money is there because they were recently granted €700,000 to do other maintenance works. They are only going to spend about €400,000 of that so the money is there to do up the downpipe. They got quotes. They have engaged with the Department of Education and Youth. It is really urgent that these toilets are fixed. The money is there and it needs to be reassigned to fix the downpipe and fix the toilets. We need to see some common sense. I am sure there is somebody in the Department ticking boxes there and saying "No" but we need to see common sense. We need to see the Minister for Education and Youth intervene and say that this makes sense. It will maintain the school morale and the health and safety of the children in that school.”
“I also acknowledge and welcome Mr. Jan Taylor, up from Carlow on the visit. He is very welcome. CBS Westland Row is a great school. It is only a five-minute walk from here. Willie Pearse and Pádraig Pearse were students in the school. It has been there since 1864. It is understandable that it will have a lot of maintenance requirements. As it is a very old building, it does require a lot of maintenance. Half of the boys' toilets in the school are closed because of flooding due to the rain. There is a downpipe that is not working and it is causing the destruction of the toilets for the boys. It is also affecting the classrooms. A knock-on effect is that it is affecting the morale of teachers. These teachers are working with some of the most disadvantaged and diverse communities in the country.”
“Of course everybody welcomes the new homes that will come with this development but why forget about the old homes for families who have been trying to survive in substandard conditions? Regeneration should be for everyone, not only for the council with its new office plans. Regeneration should be for families who believed in this city before everyone left or was pushed out into the suburbs. The money is there and the Government and the council need to regenerate the flat complexes across the city. Countess Markievicz House, Vincent Street and Rathmines Avenue all need regeneration now. The money is there but the Government is choosing not to invest it in flat complexes.”
“Given that it has been possible for the Government to find money for new shiny offices for Dublin City Council at Camden Yard, it seems that the money from the cancelled Pearse House regeneration and the money from the new rent increases for tenants in Dublin City Council housing will pay for those new offices. Residents of Oliver Bond House, Countess Markievicz House and Mercer House all have to live with dampness and mould and pay more for the privilege to do so. Effectively, the Government is saying to residents that they can put up with leaks and sewage overflowing in their homes, but it is going to spend the money on new offices. That is hurtful and unfair.”
“The reality is that the Government and Dublin City Council have no problem finding money when they want to. They have no problem finding the money for new shiny well-insulated offices, but for residents living in tiny flats with damp and mould, and for residents living in substandard flats and houses, the rent just gets higher and higher. There are still no improvements. There is no sense there are going to be any improvements in maintenance. The residents in flat complexes have no prospect of seeing better insulation in their homes. The plans for the regeneration of Pearse House were cancelled because the Government said it could not find the money; it could not afford it. Suddenly, from down the back of the couch, the Government has pulled out the necessary money to support the council's move to Camden Yard.”
“I welcome the Cuban ambassador. It is important that he is here in our Parliament. These are worrying times for Cuba and the Cuban people. Indeed, they are worrying times for the entire world with what is happening. It is important that Ireland stands with and supports the Cuban people at a time when they are facing horrendous terror, in effect. The Cuban people were good to Ireland and it is time for Ireland to be good to Cuba. I also acknowledge the very recent passing of Eleanor Lanigan, whom people will have known from Leinster House. Eleanor was a great advocate and campaigner for human rights and for Cuba. I want to acknowledge that. Some €581 million will be spent by Dublin City Council to move the civic offices from Wood Quay to Camden Yard.”
“Constitutional change represents a unique opportunity for all citizens of the nation, regardless of background, to come together to build something better. This Presidency should be used to its maximum effect in pushing this forward.”
“We have much experience to share with EU member states on how Ireland achieved an internationally legally binding agreement after 30 years of conflict. There are many lessons regarding the Good Friday Agreement, from negotiations through to the signing of the document, the associated referendums and its ongoing implementation. It must also be remembered that, in April 2017, the European Council agreed that in the event of a united Ireland, the Six Counties could rejoin the Union as part of a unified Ireland. Irish unity represents the best opportunity for our nation to succeed and thrive. It is not a narrow interpretation of unity with the North simply being glued onto the South; it is a reimagining of how people are treated in the Republic and how we operate on the global stage.”
“We have to ensure the EU backs the position of Spain. It is a position Ireland should and could have taken the lead in. Likewise, I do not agree with the recent outrageous statement from the Taoiseach that Ireland is militarily standing with Ukraine. Sinn Féin stands with Ukraine and fully supports all humanitarian efforts and aid, but Ireland is a militarily neutral country and we should be reflecting the contribution to peace and dialogue that we can make, based on our own experience. This should be a focus of our Presidency of the European Council. I am delighted the Ceann Comhairle has decided to adopt the proposal to host an interparliamentary conference on the theme of pursuance of peace in global volatility.”
“We need to take heed of that and urge a return to diplomacy and an end to the war in the Middle East. The Irish Government needs to condemn these actions and speak out as a neutral, credible voice against unprovoked military aggression. We need a clear head. We do not need to be sucked into war and the apparatus of war. That is a real concern I have. Frankly, it is beyond disappointing that the Government could not condemn these attacks as illegal and that the Taoiseach continues to provide cover for American aggression and refuses to take a stand, as Spain has, against this completely unjustified and dangerous war. It is important to acknowledge the Spanish Prime Minister's clear, strong, brave and principled statements, which, in fairness, contrast with Ireland's jellyfish approach to international law. It is really disappointing.”
“This is affecting us all and will affect us even more. We should also be clear that the motivation for these attacks is to deflect from ongoing investigations of both Trump and Netanyahu in their own countries, although recently somebody said to me that it is not a distraction because neither of them needs a distraction. Trump and Netanyahu have so much power, they do not fear any consequences. They do not feel they have to worry about anything and they can do what they want. Unfortunately, that appears to be the case. The rapid change of heart by the British Government, which is now assisting the assault on Iran, demonstrates just how difficult it is to make an independent decision once a country is part of a military alliance. There is a stark lesson for the Government in that.”
“The global situation in which we inherit the EU Presidency is one of turmoil, conflict and aggression. Disregard for the UN Charter, international law and the multilateral system appears to be the order of the day. The illegal and unprovoked war against Iran, launched by Israel and the United States, is an absolute disgrace and needs to be condemned in the strongest possible way by the European Union. These attacks were orchestrated in the middle of ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran. There was a diplomatic process under way, yet the governments of the United States and Israel abandoned this in favour of war. This is just another example of law and diplomacy becoming irrelevant in the modern day, with guns and missiles coming back into the mainstream and increasing militarisation.”
“Irish citizens in the North are EU citizens too and they and their political representatives should play a full role in all of the upcoming engagements throughout the EU Presidency. I understand the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, brought a memo to yesterday's Cabinet meeting regarding the attendance of elected representatives from the North. This would be very welcome and I would welcome the Minister of State's thoughts on this later on. The unique situation on our island was brought about by partition, which was not a democratic decision by any means. We will have to navigate that for as long as partition remains. The onus is on the Government to ensure that citizens of the North are represented throughout the EU Presidency.”
“I acknowledge and agree with Senator Ahearn's comments on the incredible work the Department is doing. It is under a lot of pressure. I also acknowledge the incredible work Irish diplomats do across the globe and the professionalism they show, day in, day out. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the incoming Irish Presidency of the EU Council, which will begin in July. We are living in unprecedented times, with turmoil and uncertainty. I understand that consultation is ongoing ahead of the publication of the final schedule of events. I hope the Government will take the North into account during this term and that the issue of Irish unity is not left off the agenda. Irish unity is coming and it is important we use every opportunity we can to ensure we are prepared and ready for it and welcome and open to it.”
“This lack of fiscal responsibility would not be tolerated in any other area. There was rightful uproar over the wasteful spending on the bike shed but when it comes to Greyhound Racing Ireland, the State is happy to pour money into a black hole. If Greyhound Racing Ireland sincerely believes it deserves State funding, it needs to prove to the Oireachtas that it will use that funding efficiently and transparently, and without animal cruelty.”
“Extensive research outlines that the stated figures underpinning Greyhound Racing Ireland's public image are only half-truths, if not pure fabrications, including the number of living greyhounds in the industry, the number of deaths, the economic importance of the industry and its commercial ability to sustain itself without complete reliance on the public purse. The reality is that this is an industry built on deceit and abuse - deceit of the taxpayer and abuse of animals. To that end, we need to apply real scrutiny to the guarantee of State funding for that organisation and undertake a review of how it spent the money in the past. It is absurd to think that every year, we do not expect a single shred of transparency or accountability from Greyhound Racing Ireland before handing it millions of euro.”
“Every year, Greyhound Racing Ireland is allowed to get away with murder - literally, the murder of greyhounds. Huge numbers are dying or being injured on tracks. Greyhound Racing Ireland is handed millions of euro in taxpayers' money, with no accountability, transparency or business plan and with countless signs that it does not have any interest in spending taxpayers' money wisely or sustainably. It does not appear to have any interest in ensuring that greyhounds are treated humanely. There are significant concerns about abuse in the industry, particularly with regard to breeding practices. It is becoming increasingly clear that Greyhound Racing Ireland's business model is nonsensical, with its transparency register completely failing to serve its purpose.”
“I welcome the guests of Senator McCarthy - staff who work with AMC Removals - Kayleigh, Brenda, Esther and Bianca. I hope the Senator brought them for dinner and that they have a day off tomorrow. He usually does that for everybody he brings in”
“We move now to statements on special needs assistants. I ask people to stick to their time. Towards the end of sessions, people are being cut short or left without time, so I am going to be very strict - assertive - on time.”
“It is absolutely sickening. Irish Sport for Palestine has submitted a complaint to the International Criminal Court accusing the presidents of FIFA and UEFA of aiding war crimes against humanity. We need to have the Minister for sport in here to explain and debate why he sees Israel as a normal country.”
“Even more worryingly, David Courell, who is now the CEO, is ignoring the wishes of Irish football. David Courell, it is important to remind him and everybody else, is not Irish football; he is the CEO, and he must not act as a puppet for the Irish Government. I believe the Government is pressuring the FAI into playing Israel. Why else would the CEO ignore the grassroots and Irish football fans? Why is the Minister for sport ignoring Irish football? I often hear people say sport and politics should not mix. That is absolute nonsense, as was evident when we saw Gianni Infantino presenting Donald Trump with a peace award and taking a place on the Board of Peace for Gaza, as if Palestinians have not suffered enough without a madman like Infantino being on the board, pretending to do something for Gaza that is only going to enrich him.”
“I sincerely hope the match will not go ahead, but if it does, it is really important that Israeli supporters and the management team all be security-screened to ensure those of them who are known to have participated in genocide or committed war crimes will be held to account. Four years ago, the Irish Government and the FAI confirmed that no Irish team would play Russia at any level, yet now they are happy to play Israel. If there were a nations league for hypocrisy, the Irish Government would win it hands down. Irish football is against the game taking place. It is not me who is saying that; it is Irish football. The FAI congress, which is made up of grassroots supporters and members, said the game should not be played. UEFA has ignored Irish football.”
“I, too, express my condolences to the family of Tony McKenna. The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, is sounding more and more like Donald Trump every day. Two weeks ago, he threatened to withdraw funds from innocent clubs because of a small few. He also proposed legislation to ban flares even though flares are already illegal. Now he has claimed Israel is a legitimate UEFA team. This is a bizarre statement. The Israeli team does not conform with its own governing body’s rules and regulations. How is that normal? Welcoming Israel and its supporters to play Ireland is insane.”
“I thank the Minister of State, but that was somewhat disappointing. The south inner city is in desperate need of a Gaelcholáiste. The community is crying out for it. The Government's approach is falling far short. That is disappointing. There is an opportunity here to purchase the monastery. It would make a huge difference in the long term. Long-term planning is very important. It is disappointing that the Minister will not meet the local campaign group. There has been radio silence. The local group knows the details of what is needed and the least it deserves, given the campaigning it has done over the years on this issue, is to be engaged with and consulted. I urge the Minister of State to ensure that this campaign group is met and there is some satisfaction brought about.”
“As the monastery is a Christian Brothers' asset, it would be wise for the Department to acquire the building as part of the compensation. I would like the Minister of State to make a statement on whether this is something that has been considered by the Department. Will he commit to assisting the school in becoming fully established and effective, put all the worries the school currently has away and ensure that there is a healthy, vibrant and positive Gaelcholáiste?”
“The Gaelcholáiste could use this very effectively. This building was formerly used by Synge Street CBS and has many practical rooms, classrooms and a full-sized canteen. Its acquisition would be a great benefit to Gaelcholáiste Synge. The building the Gaelcholáiste is situated in now has 13 classrooms, which is not enough to accommodate the 400 students intended by the Department to study at the school in the future. Likewise, the building lacks any practical rooms whereas the additional space that would be afforded by the monastery would allow a broader curriculum to be offered to students. It would also enable the school to become wheelchair accessible, which is very important. The Christian Brothers have considerable debt with the Department of education due to the amount of redress.”
“It does not have the staff it needs nor the buildings to accommodate the projected number of students, not to mention the deeply flawed way in which the Department failed to engage with students, family and staff of the CBS Synge Street when the Gaelcholáiste was first established. The Department of education has essentially been radio silent on the future of this school and has avoided meeting local campaign groups or making clear commitments around the future redevelopment of this site. The south inner city is crying out for a Gaelcholáiste, but the Government's approach and lack of planning are making a shambles of the opportunity. One way in which the Department can take a positive step forward is by acquiring the Christian Brothers' monastery, which is adjacent to the Synge Street site and is currently being sold off.”
“I thank the Minister of State for coming in. Gaelcholáiste Synge will be the vitally important Gaelscoil for the Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8 area that has long been awaited by the local community. It is due to open at the end of August this year. The establishment of this school is the result of a very long and committed campaign by activists in Dublin city to ensure the students in this part of the city have access to Irish-language education. Despite the school having been established on paper, there has been no clarity and no timeline on when it will actually come into being. There are real concerns around it.”
“There are young children and young people trying to grow up and parents raising families in the inner city. It is unsafe. There is a lack of investment in road safety and facilities for young people in the inner city. Last night, Ava's mam was out playing football or running. There are skate parks. There is a variety of sports facilities and activities that kids can get involved in, but those are severely lacking in the inner city. Kids and young people in the inner city deserve more. They deserve investment. It has been sorely lacking. Young people like Ava and Harris have articulated what needs to be done. There needs to be investment and more facilities. We need to debate this with the Minister to hear the voices of young people like Harris and Ava.”
“I have three important visitors here today and will mention two of them in particular - Harris Devoy and Ava Neville from Leo Fitzgerald House, which is not far from here. The context for their visit is that I have raised the condition of the flats many times here. Between dampness, mould, rats and sewerage leaks, the condition of the flats is lamentable. That is not why Ava and Harris are here today, though. They are here because when we were meeting residents, they said that there was a severe lack of play facilities for young people in the community and a lack of road safety. They felt unsafe out and about on the road. It is important to remember that the inner city is their home. There are thousands of families living in the inner city.”
“He is not derided in the press or among commentators. This mostly happens only if people are from a disadvantaged community. If people have the letters for senior counsel after their names, such as Gabriel Gavigan has, they can object as much as they want and object to anything they want and no one will comment. Anything I say now is on the public record; he has signed all of the objections and they are on the record. This is very unfair on a gym that makes a massive contribution to the local community. As I have said, it is being damaged and impacted negatively by one individual.”
“It provides classes in a healthy space and it is barely visible to pedestrians. This facility will have to be removed due to this one objector, who I believe is not impacted at all by the facility. I have been inundated with emails and calls from locals who use the gym to improve their health and to socialise. What really irritates me is that when residents in the inner city protest against a facility or service, they have to take to the streets because they do not have the resources, time, money or professional background. They are often derided for doing so by the media and commentators. This objector is a senior counsel and because he has the time, money and professional background, and knows his ways around the courts and legal processes, he can put in objection after objection and no one says anything.”
“Dartry gym, which is also known as Iconic Health Club in Rathgar, Dublin 6 is more than just a gym. It is a community hub that employs 35 or 36 individuals. The benefit of the gym to the local community is profound. It makes its facilities available to schools and sports clubs free of charge. Mental health groups such as Blueballs Ireland have had significant support from Dartry gym. Young and old use the facilities. It is a generous sponsor and supporter of various community projects. The problem is that the gym and its development is being targeted and blocked by a prolific objector. The current objection from the prolific objector is to a canopy that was erected during Covid to allow exercise in a safe, open and healthy environment. This is a wellness space.”
“Before Senator O'Reilly speaks, I welcome the guests of Senator Garret Kelleher from Scoil Eoin. I understand the students do not have any homework for the rest of the week after their visit to the Seanad and the Dáil. I also welcome the guests of Deputy Malcolm Byrne. At a rough guess, they will have to do their homework. I call Senator O’Reilly. I ask him to be brief.”
“The Minister of State is to respond at 3.20 p.m., so we are tight for time. Three more Senators have indicated. I know Senator Craughwell has been on the list for a while. Does everyone still want to speak?”
“Senator Black's occupied territories Bill has been watered down and the Government will not even bother passing the watered-down version. It is disgraceful. The Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, is trying to claim that Israelis are welcome. Honestly, those in up there in Government Buildings have lost touch. It is shameful that the Government would not hold Israeli participants in genocide to account.”
“It is afraid to upset the Americans and afraid to upset the Israelis. If Russians who had just left the front line on Ukraine were coming here, the Government would have no issue pulling them up, doing a security check and dealing with them in the proper manner but Israelis coming in, having participated in genocide and committed war crimes, will not be stopped. There will be no problem issuing them visas to come in. Contrast this with the GAA kids from Palestine who were looking to come over and play football and hurling last year. They were blocked but the Government will not block genocidal participants. This is shameful. Is it any wonder the Government is not going to pass the occupied territories Bill or why we have not seen sight nor sound of it for a long time?”
“The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, says he welcomes Israeli supporters here and that we should welcome them here because it is a regular team. Honestly, what planet is the Government living on to say this? If I suggested we play Russia in a friendly in the Aviva, I would be derided and slammed for it. On the same day that Israelis are sending Palestinian skulls to the staff in Al-Shifa hospital, the Minister is saying that Israel is a normal country, a normal state and a normal football team. I would look to ensure there is security screening for Israelis coming to support or participate in that match. They should be vetted and anyone found to be participating in the Israel Defense Forces genocide in Gaza or war crimes should be arrested and dealt with. Of course the Government will not do this because it is spineless. This is the reality.”
“Removing the triple lock will be a monumental change in Ireland's foreign policy and the Government should stop trying to brush over this ramification. I believe that Ireland's place in the world is as a country that stands up for international law and for peace. Our military neutrality is central to this and must be protected. If the Government thinks it has the winning arguments on this issue, it should put them to the people. Let us have a referendum and let the people decide. Trust the people to make the decision that is good for Ireland and I believe they will do so. I understand that today it was agreed the Israel-Ireland match would be played here. I want to mention all the backroom staff, team, players, management and supporters.”
“There is no doubt the UN needs to be reformed, and it is not functioning as it was first intended, but now is not the time for us to abandon any belief in international peace and run to grab our rifles. Our strength is in our reputation as diplomats, peacekeepers and peace builders. As a small country, our strength will never be military. Ireland, as a militarily neutral country, should be at the forefront of standing up for multilateralism and for diplomacy. We would be foolish to abandon this effort just so we can sign up to foreign military adventures. If the Government is as concerned about sovereignty as it claims, the obvious thing it should do is put it to the people as to whether they actually favour abolishing the triple lock.”
“The provisions of the triple lock ensure that when Irish peacekeepers are deployed abroad, it should only happen on the basis of international law and with international consensus, not as part of one side of a great power conflict. Ministers constantly say this is about removing Russia's veto on Irish foreign policy, which is blatantly untrue. Russia, as a Security Council member, cannot veto a specific country's participation in a peace enforcement mission. Since the 1990s there has been no evidence that a Russian veto ever prevented Ireland from participating in a peace enforcement mission and there is no evidence that Russia has ever vetoed a peace enforcement mission to bring that mission to an end.”
“Yet, the Government has opted to attack the core of our neutrality in a clear attempt to move us closer to NATO and align us with EU militarisation. This is the direction of travel the Government is putting us on. It is undermining our long-standing military neutrality, increasing EU military integration and aligning us with countries like the United States, Britain and Germany, which have openly facilitated genocide in Palestine and countless other countries, moving us away from our proud history as a voice for peace and diplomacy towards a future as a tiny cog in a European military machine. The Government argument that removing the triple lock is not about undermining our neutrality but protecting our sovereignty is complete nonsense.”
“Let us be clear; if the Government's Bill is enacted, it will make Ireland less safe. The general scheme of the defence (amendment) Bill 2025 aims to erode the triple lock, which the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, described in the Dáil in 2013 as being at "the core of our neutrality". In the same debate, he said that although "the United Nations is not working as it should ... we must not abandon it as an essential part of the international system". In the years since then, the world has become a more dangerous and less stable place. Our neutrality is now more important than ever in ensuring our security and keeping us out of the international wars that put our Defence Forces and our country at risk.”
“I thank the Minister for coming in. The current assault on the triple lock by the Government is enormously alarming. It is even more alarming when we hear the powerful contribution from Senator Clonan, who clearly has knowledge and experience. He has, through an evidence-based argument, deconstructed the argument by the Government for the need to get rid of the triple lock. Almost all evidence points to the fact that most Irish people believe the triple lock is necessary and is an important protection to ensure our neutrality. Recent polls have shown that our neutrality in the triple lock is supported by a significant majority and despite this, the Government seems dead set on dismantling the protection to allow for the deployment of our Defence Forces abroad without UN approval.”